Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon due to Injury

Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon on Friday because of tendinitis in his knees. He is the first reigning Wimbledon men's champion not to defend the title since Goran Ivanisevic in 2002 and only the second in the last 35 years. The grass-court Grand Slam tournament begins Monday.

"I'm just not 100%," Nadal said during a news conference at the All England Club. "I'm better than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I just don't feel ready.

The withdrawal opens the door for Roger Federer to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, a spot he held for a record 237 consecutive weeks until Nadal pushed him down to No. 2 in August.